Completed:

1. Alternative Site Analysis
The NOAA Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability Program provided general information to assist with finding a site suitable for a 120-acre farm, the projected size of the operation.

2. Initial Bathymetric Survey Conducted (April – May 2019)
Multibeam echosounder, sidescan sonar, magnetometer and sub-bottom profiler data were collected and assessed for the initial bathymetric survey area of 700 acres. The data assessment revealed a generally smooth seafloor topography which slopes to the southeast. A small ridge runs across a portion of the area in a northeast/southwest direction and appears to contain some areas of hard substrate that could support biological communities, such as sponges or coral.

3. Second survey of an adjacent site survey to the north was executed in December 2020 with the report received in January – February 2020 (EPA)
The 2019 bathymetric survey revealed potential hard bottom at the proposed site. Bathymetric surveys cannot identity whether or what biota is present. For this reason, EPA indicated that the proposed site must be 1,000 m from any hard bottom. A second bathymetric survey of an adjusted project site to avoid hard bottom was planned for early 2020. The second survey was postponed due to weather and then due to COVID-19 out of concern for the boat’s crew and surveyors.

EPA, CWA Section 403: Procedural and Monitoring Guidance (EPA-842-B-94-003 March 1994)

4. Using oceanographic data obtained during both surveys, numerical modeling was performed to evaluate the suitability of the intended StormSafe® submersible net pen and its accompanying mooring system for the intended site
• Informed technical and engineering decisions for the project

5. Interagency Request for Information (RFI)
• Preferred farm location and footprint have been determined from this study and were used to finalize project details.
• Our RFI response was submitted mid-October 2021, and MFF received feedback, as well as a Request for Additional Information (RFAI) at the end of January 2022.
• After addressing interagency questions/comments, MFF finalized and submitted full permit applications in early April, 2022.

6. The EPA, being the project lead, deemed the application complete in early May 2022

Currently Under Way:

7. NEPA analysis

8. Planning and development of land-based operations

9. Stakeholder engagement

10. Operational planning

Next Up:

11. Baseline Benthic analysis

12. Baseline Water study

13. Operations

14. Harvest